I usually ask myself what the character wants. I just attended a workshop with Ruta Rimas, an editor at Harper Collins, at a SCBWI conference. She had us write a bit as if our characters had characteristics opposite of what we described them as and wanting the opposite of what we thought they wanted. Also she suggested asking ourselves what the character would never say, think, or do and making them do those things. Maybe trying some of that would help. It certainly changes things around.

HOLY CRAP I wrote down the same line when I heard it! I'm guessing we were thinking the same way at the time!

Character motivation for me isn't always spelled out. I wrote my entire first draft on motivation alone of my character then realized that the motivation was scattered and now I'm having to outline to find the true motivation of my character.

I too write my posts on weekends so all my writers block/thoughts/frsutrations have gone on way past the breaking point.

I have my copy of Eat,Pray,Love in the mail today and something tells me the motivation I need in life is about to hit me like a mack truck and this time I'll be ready to handle the inspiration! Look out world here I come!

That's a tough question! I've actually been struggling with the motivation of my MC in my WIP, because she's really closed-off and recalcitrant about it. So she doesn't know her motivation. But I have to, and I have to show it in really subtle ways since she's not actually aware of what she wants (she thinks with all her heart she wants one thing, but that's not actually true.) Lol, it's a huge headache.

Ooo, good question. Sadly, I think the truest answer is that I need to work on determining character motivation. I think there are two camps - character motivated writing and plot motivated writing - and I am definitely in the latter cater(gory). So instead of determining character motivation, I determine story movement and build my character's motivations to match that movement. A little unconventional, I think, but we'll see how it serves me.That was a great quote, even from a usually silly show.

Probably not the most helpful answer, but for me, the MC's motivation is usually what drives the entire story--what they fear and/or desire the most, which then sets the stage for the upcoming conflict. If you've got your conflict in place, the motivation should follow.

Motivation. I suppose that is the crux of the matter when it comes to creating characters, eh? The basic motivation would be to meet the basic human needs: shelter, food, etc. beyond that it gets tricky.

To figure out my character's motivation I look into their past. When I'm really having trouble I do one of those fun questionaires on them, the kind that ask all those personal questions, likes, dislikes, past, and all that. Works every time!

Not really sure how I figure it out. It sort of just becomes clear as I get to know the character. Of course, some are chattier than others. That's a really great line from GLEE though, and a good thing to ponder when trying to sort your characters out. You can also ask, what is most important to this character? What is important to the society around this character, and how do the character's desires go with or against that?

Sadly, I'm one of those people who's main characters usually appear completely formed. The advantage is they show up complete with motivation and tell me all about it. The downside is they run the show and my life (and drive me more than a little crazy because they won't cooperate at ALL).

Um...yeah...my head is a scary place to be.

But I do have some other character development exercises I learned in film school that I use to explore the side characters that I invent to reign the main characters in. If you ever want to know about 'em, you know where to find me. :)

My best character motivation comes to me as I lie in bed drifting off for the night. It is this time that I often think about what I'll be writing the next day. Here the characters are real to me and I can see them playing out their lives for me like a movie.

Motivation's tricksy. I have two WIPs that are at a stalemate because I have all this stuff going on but when it all comes back to the MC, I haven't figured out yet just WHY we should care about all that stuff and why the MC should be messing with it. It's a tough question.

That's a great question. I've been able to determine this for the characters in my other books but it's been hard for my current WIP. I guess I try to think of what would be out of their grasp and how badly they want it. If they do really want it, I discover what they'd be motivated to go for--and exactly what they'll do to get it.

Ooh, Dan Wells just covered this in his latest blog post.He said it's possible to revisit the hero's arc in a sequel, but up the stakes, make the character dig deeper into his own persona, make the risks steeper. Something like that. Go read it. :D

Mostly, I'm with Falen on this one: the motivation just seems to come out of the story. But for me it's never all at once. So if I had a word of advice, it'd literally be a word: time. After some time, the different layers & motivators will just come out. Work on a different part of the book, maybe, and see what comes up. Good luck!

I usually start with an idea that I turn into a very brief outline. Then I just start writing the character's thoughts. Not about anything specific at first, just writing to find her voice. Gradually (sometimes very quickly) her voice comes through with very specific thoughts on topics, her dreams, desires, goals. Pretty soon after that I know her motivation and how she'll react to the different conflicts she'll encounter in the book.

I've been reading some about motivation for characters and doing some exercises that have helped. Like putting them in a situation that is expected, then turning the scene and making them do the exact opposite. Then I have to come up with a plausible reason why they were motivated to do what they did. Sometimes it can open wide some doors I hadn't even considered:) Hope that all makes sense!

It's tricky, as this can be so situational, but general, I look at the character and ask what they would want most, given their situation, history, and personalities. that generally helps to determine their motivations and thus their actions.

Good luck! But I know you'll work this out because you are awesome, chickie.

It is for this very reason that I don't want to write a sequel. I'm terrified of the same thing. Someone above (can't remember who now) said something about increasing the motivation or the problem with each sequel. Hunger Games and Uglies series both did this. Good Luck! I wish I could give you more advice, but I haven't encountered a sequel yet.

If you character has grown so should the motivation. Look to a bigger problem, or maybe a flip the script… like what the char did last book has actually compromised the problem he/she is now facing. Maybe the solution of the last book actuly causes the problem now.

I let the story direct itself… so I can’t answer how I come up with motivation. Good luck

I seriously consider their psychology. Studying human behavior and psychology has helped me soooo much to find the motivation and patterns of behavior in characters. Does she have daddy issues? If so I know she will do this and this as a result...etc. Sadly, most of us are fairly textbook. Eating disorder? Oh, emotional issues have been unexamined because of invalidating parent and or controling environment-- also leads to self destructive tendencies with opposite sex and insecurity in making decisions and weak sense of self etc.There is always a new direction to go as the character's experiences and realizations evolve and change. It has been very helpful to examine my past and the teens around me in the context of their upbringing. You can almost call it just by seeing their choices.Obviously I can blab on this all day. (= But I won't-- although it excites me.

Wow, that line is an excellent way to determine character motivation. I think the motivations of my MCs in my first two books were way similar, and after I realized this, I made sure my third MC's motivation was completely different before even starting the book. I'm going to write down that quote -- thanks!

And I love how the answer to the question can morph as a result of character arc. Jenny Crusie describes it as: "Act I: This is what I want. Act II: This is what I really want--my secret. Act III: This is what I REALLY want, now that I've passed the Point of No Return. Act IV: This is what I need at ANY cost." I like this progression, because I think it underscores how often people are unaware of or dishonest about what they really want, and it forces the protagonist to grow and know themselves better in order to get their happy ending.

And I think, from book to book, the specific goal that embodies the "what" will be different, even if thematically there are similarities, you know? And why the character wants what they want will differ too. As long as those things are unique (well, not totally unique; you know what I mean) to your new protagonist, I don't think you'll be re-writing your last book.

I feel that you had better know the minds of your characters, get in their heads and poke around a little...the demons or motives that you have lurking about will jump out of the closet.Or do the total opposite of what one would expect from your character, or do what Stephen King does kill..em all.hahaha

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